Brenda Novak Diabetes Auction


Brenda Novak is LDS and a poplular mystery/suspense writer. She’s been on the NY Times and the USA Today Best Seller lists multiple times. She’s written over 30 novels.

AND she sponsors an annual online auction for diabetes.

Last year, I sponsored a category in this auction. This year, my schedule wouldn’t allow it—but this is a wonderful event and I support it 100%!

The auction goes from May 1st through the 31st, but some items are one-day only or limited time auctions. There are prizes for those who bid the most and also some awesome raffles.

There are lots of really cool items up for bid:

  • Gobs of books, ARCs and book-related items
  • Concert tickets
  • Trips, Get-aways, and Writers Conference passes
  • Meals and meetings with authors and agents
  • iPad 2, Mystery Boxes, Sports Memorabilia
  • Artwork
  • Food
  • Hand-crafted items
  • Jewelry
  • and more…

LDSP Secrets Revealed!!!


Lisa Turner is one of seven women who blog at Mormon Mommy Writers.

She interviewed me last Saturday for her Saturday Stories series.

She was very, very sneaky and got me to reveal some personal information, such as:

  • the “catch” behind the free writing advice dispensed here
  • my lifelong search for the one true green jell-o recipe
  • the scam behind the Whitney Awards
  • and much more!

Go check it out HERE.

Before Sending Me a Question…

Updated 6:45 p.m.: Okay, I’m over my snit now so I’ve modified this post and taken out the attitude. But expect a post in the near future on not shooting yourself in the foot…

Please read DA RULES and WHY I STARTED THIS BLOG.

This is an advice blog where answers to your questions benefit all readers of the blog. I do not answer specific, personal questions via private e-mails.

It is assumed that all questions sent to me via e-mail are intended for publication on the blog, with all identifying information removed.

(Oh, and use this e-mail address.)

Lessons For Authors & Publishers—A Cautionary Tale

A few days ago, someone told me the Whitney Board had sent out a list of novels available to the Whitney Voting Academy as pdfs. These pdfs are guarded very closely and are programmed to self-destruct once you’ve read them—so they’re not easy to get to. I was told I needed to request them.

I diligently checked my e-mail, thinking maybe I’d overlooked or accidentally deleted that e-mail. I needed it bad because despite my very generous offer to trade ad space for e-books, not everyone has taken me up on it and there are some titles I just can’t find at my lovely local library.

Anyway. No e-mail. I was confused. Was I kicked off the Voting Academy? Did they not like me anymore? Was I such an opinionated slacker that they were distancing themselves from me? I almost cried.

Then—a lightbulb went off. I’d never let the PTBs at the Whitney Board know that I’d changed from that irritating hotmail address to the seriously awesome and nearly always functional gmail account.

I logged into the old account—something I haven’t done since last October—and what-the-heck! there were 310 messages there!!! And thus begins my cautionary tale…

Lesson #1: ALWAYS update your contact information when you’re working with an agent and/or publisher. Don’t just post it on your blog, send them an e-mail with your new address.

Okay, so yes, about 1/4th of the e-mails were messages telling me I had new Twitter followers or someone inviting me to play a Facebook game. (I don’t play those games, btw. Sorry)

And another 1/4th were from Cedar Fort’s Chapter 1 Club. (Which is really an awesome idea and I wish other publishers did it because it makes it soooo easy to find their new releases. But CFI, just a tip. Add to every one of those club e-mails an easy link to and/or instructions for joining the club so that when I forward that to a friend, they don’t have to google you to sign up.)

(Oh, and CFI is the ONLY publisher that has an easy-to-find, follow and get info from page on their website that features new releases. Some other publishers say they do, but it’s either outdated or difficult to find.)

(CFI also has a second website with good info about their books.)

Lesson #2: Every single publisher in the world should have an up-to-date New Releases page!!! And so should authors—with links to excerpts and where to buy.

Okay. Uhm. Where was I? Oh, yes. A few of those e-mails informed me that I’d just inherited £100000000 (lucky me!).

But 32 of them were important and required action from me—action which was never taken because I didn’t get the e-mails until last night.

Lesson #3: Occasionally check your old account (like weekly?) in case important people didn’t get your message.

Among those 32 important e-mails, I found the e-mails from the Whitney Board. I also found some entries for the 2010 Christmas Story Contest that never made it because they went to the wrong e-mail address. This wasn’t the case with me, but sometimes agents or publishers will create a special e-mail for certain types of submissions, and they’ll never see the one you sent to their main e-mail address.

Lesson #4: ALWAYS, ALWAYS follow the posted directions and use the e-mail link in the post.

I also found e-mails about new book releases, and contests, and Questions! Fodder for my blog!! I missed them all!

Lesson #5: If a publisher, agent or blogger has a big pink button on the site that clashes so hideously with the colors of the blog in order to make it stand out and be visible to everyone and that button says “E-mail me at:” followed by an e-mail address in very large and visible letters, use that address!

And for bloggers, publishers and agents…

Lesson #6: When you change your e-mail address, in addition to posting large garish notices in your sidebar and changing the links in as many of the previous posts as you think is reasonable (like your FAQs pages), CHANGE THE ADDRESS ON YOUR BLOGGER PROFILE!

And thus ends my cautionary tale. Do as I say, not as I did. Sorry.

All 32 of the important e-mails will receive a personal response and apology and action will be taken to correct the issue, when possible.


Contest Point System Explained

I was wondering about what you said about judging the Publisher’s Choice of story: “Publisher’s Choice winners will be judged on a variety of criteria, according to a point system.” Would you be willing to explain this point system?

Sure. This was referring to the recent Christmas story contest. Those who enter get a doc file with their points and comments in the various areas. (I’ve sent some out already; still working on others.)

  • Submitted Correctly: 1 = Yes; 0 = No
  • Title: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Change
  • Word Count Limit: 1 = 3,000 or less; 0 = Over
  • Length Appropriate for Story: 1 = Yes; 0 = No
  • Grammar Mistakes: 2 = Few; 1 = More; 0 = Too Many
  • Spelling/Typos: 2 = Few; 1 = More; 0 = Too Many
  • Adverb/Adjective/Cliché: 2 = Few; 1 = More; 0 = Too Many
  • Show, Not Tell: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • POV: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Dialog: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Dialog Tags: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Characterization: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Setting/Sense of Place: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Appeals to Senses: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Hook: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Plot/Arc: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Overall Structure: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Christmas Theme/Message: 1 = Yes; 0 = No
  • Original/Unique: 2 = Surprised Me; 1 = Familiar but Good; 0 = Read it Before
  • Miscellaneous: 2 = Great; 1 = Good; 0 = Needs Work
  • Personal Enjoyment: 2 = Loved; 1 = Liked; 0 = Try Again Next Year

Total Score Possible: 38

Generally, a story has to get 30 or more before I consider it publication ready.

Adding Links to Reviews on LDS Fiction

A little self-congratulation here:

If you want more views and info on LDS fiction, Andrew Hall is starting a new feature on his Dawning of a Brighter Day blog. He will be doing “a weekly column covering the world of Mormon literature”—and linking to the book pages on my LDS Fiction blog. He will also post links to reviews for the books in the comments section on my blog. That way, you’ll have easy access to reviews of books that sound interesting to you.

Cool!

Thanks, Andrew!

Adding Links to Reviews on LDS Fiction

A little self-congratulation here:

If you want more views and info on LDS fiction, Andrew Hall is starting a new feature on his Dawning of a Brighter Day blog. He will be doing “a weekly column covering the world of Mormon literature”—and linking to the book pages on my LDS Fiction blog. He will also post links to reviews for the books in the comments section on my blog. That way, you’ll have easy access to reviews of books that sound interesting to you.

Cool!

Thanks, Andrew!

Will Trade Ad Space for Books

Is your book on the 2010 Whitney nominee list? If it is, I want to make a proposal—a win/win trade, of sorts.

As much as I’d love to, I can’t afford to purchase every book that makes the Whitney list.

Yes, I have a library. Yes, it has lots and lots of books.

No, they do not have all of the Whitney nominees, and probably will not have all of the Whitney finalists. (They didn’t last year.)

Even if they do have them, I can’t always get my hands on a copy in a timely manner. Today I put 20 Whitney nominees that I think will most likely be finalists on hold at my library. I was number 12+ on the list for almost all of them. The chances of them coming through in time are minimal.

So my proposal is this. If you are on the list and you have your book in e-book format* I would love to read it. If you send me a FREE copy of your book so that I can read it without going crazy hunting it down, I will, in exchange for that FREE e-copy of your book:

  • give you a FREE 30 day ad on my sidebar under the “Sponsored by…Books!” heading (value: $25)
  • read your entire book
  • if I like it, I will vote for it on my Whitney ballot (okay, if I like it, I’ll vote for it whether or not you send me a copy)

And what if you’re not a Whitney nominee right now, but you have a book coming out in 2011? Same offer. Send me your book in one of the standard e-book formats* and I’ll give you a free 30 day ad.**

If you want to take me up on this offer, please send me an e-mail with the e-book as an attachment. I will let you know I’ve received it and when your ad will go up.

Thanks so much!

*I can read all standard e-book formats—pdf, epub, pdb, azw, lrf; I can also convert a Word (.doc or .docx) file. Do not send your original manuscript file. Send the publication file.

**2011 book ads will start after the 2010 Whitney winners are announced and will be limited to 10 ads on display at any given time. Ad placement will be first come, first displayed.

Forsaken (Fall of Angels #2) by Keary Taylor

It’s been four months since Alex gave everything to save Jessica. Life should be perfect; she has Alex, she’s been freed of the nightmares, and most of all- she’s alive. But some things have changed, some things haven’t. That’s the problem. Alex still hasn’t asked “the question”. Jessica can’t see the reason why and it’s tearing her apart. He’s keeping something from her.

Alex isn’t the only one who has changed though. Something is different about Jessica but she doesn’t understand what’s happened. She just knows something’s wrong, that she feels different than she used to, on a skin deep level. And it may keep her and Alex apart. Forever.

But while Alex and Jessica struggle to stay together, Cole is not about to be forgotten. There are a few things he didn’t tell Jessica, about his past and her future. There are reasons why he came after her, reasons that are tied to his history that is darker than she could have ever realized.

Read excerpt   View trailer

Title: Forsaken (Fall of Angels #2)

Author: Keary Taylor

Publisher: CreateSpace/Self

Release Date: December 23, 2010

ISBN: 978-1456470289

Size: 330 pages, 5.5 x 8.5, softcover

Genre: Paranormal

Fall of Angels Series: Branded (bk 1)


Happy Thanksgiving!

I tried to find the original of this so I could link to it,
but no luck. However, it says it’s from www.inkygirl.com

Color Me Embarassed…

When I created the post for the Christmas Story Contest, I did a copy and paste from last year’s post and just updated the info.

BUT. I forgot to change the e-mail address from “hotmail” to “gmail”.

Oops!

Normally, that would not be a big problem except for the fact that hotmail is being weirder than ever. Half the time, I can’t even get to the log-in page. The Internet tells me it doesn’t exist. I don’t know if this is a hotmail issue that everyone’s having, or a problem with my browser, or if hotmail just decided to “unfriend” me. But whatever…

If you sent your Christmas story to the hotmail address, please resend it to the GMAIL address.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

National Christian Market

I’ve been told that no one from Utah or published in Utah can break into the national Christian market, regardless of religious afiliation or genre. Is this true?

That’s pretty much been my experience. You may find a few bookstores willing to carry you outside of Utah, but it’s going to be difficult.

Years ago I represented an author who had a wonderful, non-LDS, Christian oriented book for families. Latter-day Saints wouldn’t buy it because it was general Christian. Christians wouldn’t buy it because it was from Utah.

The author self-published, changing the title and pen name, but left the content exactly the same. They got a PO Box in a Bible belt state, and sold the book online. It did well enough that it was eventually picked up by a Christian publisher. I don’t think the publisher ever knew they were dealing with an LDS Utah resident.

As far as I know, it’s still the same. Readers? What has been your experience? No speculation. We want first-hand experiences.

Why Is Non-Fiction an Easier Sale?

Thank you so much for writing such an informative blog. I love it and visit your site at least once a week.

In an old post, you stated that nonfiction sells better than fiction. Can you elaborate as to why that is?

It’s consumer psychology.

For most people, a fiction book is generally a one-time read. Then it’s over. Done. Never to be picked up again. It’s a dose of feel good by escaping from reality fix. Some people feel guilty when they read fiction—like they’re wasting time that could be better used for saving the world or something. It’s hard to plunk down $24.95 for a hardback that you’re only going to read once, and then feel guilty about. Kind of like chocolate, but more expensive.

Non-fiction is like whole foods. It is enlightening, uplifting and healthy for the brain and the psyche. It is often read, re-read, highlighted with personal annotations in the margins, used as a reference for years—plus it impresses your friends when they see it on your bookshelf. Also, when it comes to self-help books, that same $24.95 might just change your life—making you prettier, thinner, healthier, richer, whatever.

Of course, IMHO, this is all total nonsense. Good fiction is like air—necessary for life. You should buy as many good fiction books as your budget allows. In fact, if you have to trim your budget, cut out cable or go on a diet.

And don’t feel guilty! Look at it this way: Life is stressful; everyone needs an escape.* Books are healthier than drugs and alcohol, and are much cheaper than therapy and Prozac! In fact, books should be tax deductible as a medical expense.

Hey, that would be a great addition to Obama’s Health Plan. I’m calling him right now. Who’s with me?

*P.S. Note my use of the semi-colon?

Clean YA Fantasy

Please forgive me if my question is not typical for your blog.

It was recommended to me that because I am LDS, I might have more success in finding someone who will publish or represent my YA fantasy novel if I submit my manuscript to LDS publishers.

My understanding of LDS publishers is that they prefer their material to appeal to members of the LDS faith.

The only elements in the novel that I think would make it more desirable (not necessarily marketable) to an LDS YA audience over a non-LDS market, is the lack of profanity/suggestive themes/ gratuitous violence etc… (which is inherent in my writing because I am LDS). My question is if this is grounds enough to query my MS to an LDS publisher, of if I should stick with seeking a traditional agent/publisher. I imagine the worst that can happen if I did, is that my query won’t garner any reply. However, I should hate to waste the editor’s time if I should have known in advance they won’t consider my work since there’s nothing that would really make it specific to the LDS market.

Also, were I to consider submitting a query/MS, would it be better to cater my query to the particular editor, or to send out my generic query and include a separate cover sheet with an explanation of why my novel will appeal to an LDS market?

Many LDS publishers will consider fiction that has no overt LDS message or characters. A few recent examples from the big three LDS publishers are:

There are also quite a few LDS authors writing books with clean content that are being picked up by national publishers. These four are YA, three of them fantasy.

So the answer to your first question is yes. Yes, there are national publishers who are looking for clean YA fantasy. Yes, there are LDS publishers looking for clean YA fantasy with no LDS references.

The answer to your second question is that you should ALWAYS customize your query to your specific editor, publisher or agent. Always.

What’s New?

Streamlining things to make it easier for me and for you…

Blogs:

  • The Review site is gone. I’ve moved all the reviews and comments over to the LDS Fiction site, in the comments trail of the book that was reviewed. If you’re an author and have linked to your review, go update your links.
  • The Contest site is gone. It’s been merged with the Author Events blog to make the new LDS Author Events & Contests site. There is a big blue button in the sidebar that says “Give-A-Ways!” Click on that to see contests giving away LDS books and book-related products. Events are still listed by month in the sidebar.

Monthly Sponsored Comment Contests:

  • Up to 8 sponsors per month. (September currently has 6 great titles!)
  • All thoughtful comments on all LDSP blogs go into the same pot, drawing for all 8 books.
  • Updated details on sponsoring HERE.
  • Updated details on winning a book HERE.

A Fresh Start

Hiatus is coming to an end—and it’s time for a fresh start.

Starting September 1st, I’ll be back with regular—although not daily—posts. I’ll post on Tuesdays and Thursdays for sure, and maybe more often as time permits. So start sending your questions now! (Remember to use the gmail address.)

I’ll be starting the monthly sponsor/contests up again. Sorry about dropping the ball over the summer. I’ll be contacting all of you who have previously signed up to see if you’re still interested. (Sorry, again.)

I’ve finally joined the world of Facebook. Don’t expect a lot of comments from me, but I’ve hooked it up to add my blog feed so if you’re a friend, you’ll see my posts that way. (Come Friend me!) Right now, I have the LDS Fiction site in the Notes feed. Anyone know how to add a second blog feed to FB?

I will be making a few other changes as well throughout next month. More about that later.

See you next week!

**P.S. Oh. My. Gosh! I just set up the FB account yesterday and sent friend requests to a few people who’d commented on the blog lately and I have 63 other friend requests! How did all you 63 people even find out I was on there??? I need to find me a book to explain how this FB stuff works!

Sidelines at the LDSBA

A sideline is anything but books. Here are just a few that stood out for me.

I loved these! If they were selling from the tables, I would have bought some right on the spot. One side of the frame is completely removable, held in place by a very strong magnet. It’s very easy to pop it off to change images. It also stores multiple photos inside the frame. And it’s wired to EASILY hang from three directions. Well made, durable, easy to use. The link above is to their new website which is under construction but you can see them at their old site HERE. (More sizes and styles to be posted at the new site soon.)

Liken the Scriptures
I love the Liken movies. I have all of them. They have free computer wallpaper downloads here.

Latterday Banners
Need a Title of Liberty? Get your flags, magnets, t-shirts, stickers and more here.

GIF Products
Leather scripture totes. These are like the ones sold at the Distribution Center. Their newest product. . .

Scripture Totes featuring the art of Greg Olson. So new they aren’t even on the website yet. This picture doesn’t do them justice. They’re gorgeous. The image is actually sealed into the leather and will not peel off like a sticker.

If you have LDSBA photos to share, e-mail them to me and I’ll post them.

Hotmail Stinks!

For anyone who has e-mailed me since about mid-June…sorry.

I kept checking my hotmail account, even though I haven’t been posting much lately. I’d get a bit of junk mail now and then but nothing important.

Then today, I logged in and suddenly there are over 100 messages, some dating as far back as June 15th!

Dontcha’ just love technology?

If you have me in your address book, please change the address to the gmail address in the image below:

Extended Hiatus

Hi. Yes. I’m still alive. Both my personal and professional lives have had major upheaval lately. The red line went all the way to the end on this stress test (and they didn’t even ask about some of the biggest stresses in my life).

I’ve spent the past month thinking I could get to a post “tomorrow”. . . and you can see how well that’s working out for me.

So, after much thought, I’m going to discontinue this blog for awhile. I’m leaving it up for browsing. And you never know, I may suddenly become inspired and decide to do the daily blog thing again. Who knows?

To wrap up a few things:

  1. Yes. I will still publish the Book of Mormon stories anthology. I’m just way behind schedule. I can’t give you a date but I’ll make announcememts here. (Put me on your Google Reader and you’ll be notified.)
  2. I will still keep the LDS Fiction blog going. I’m a little behind on new releases right now, but will get it caught up soon. And yes, I will still be coordinating sponsors for prizes on that site.
  3. LDS FICTION SPONSORS: Since June is half over, I’m shifting everyone back one month. June sponsors will be in July; July sponsors in August, etc.
  4. LDSP SPONSORS: If you’ve signed up to sponsor the LDS Publisher site, you may transfer that sponsorship over to the LDS Fiction site; I will do as many as four books a month. You must email me at ldspublisher at gmail dot com if you want to do that. It will not be automatic. If I don’t hear from you, I will assume you no longer want to sponsor.
  5. CONTEST & EVENTS: I’ll continue to post these as you send the information to me, but give me a full week’s notice. I’ll only be updating those sites once a week.
  6. AUTHOR NETWORK: I’ll continue to work on this one, as I have time. Don’t expect a lot of action.

INFF

Title of my WIP: Is This What Death Feels Like?

Ugh. Going back to bed.

BUT—wanted to let all of you know that I am being interviewed tomorrow, Friday, for Sarah M. Eden’s I Need Friends Friday.

It was lotsa fun. Back when I was alive.

May 2010 LDSF Prize Sponsors

Last month’s prize winners announced HERE.

Please take a moment to learn more about our wonderfully generous sponsors.

The Thorn by Daron D. Fraley

Three tribes are at war on the planet Gan, unaware that the sign of Christ’s birth on an unknown world – Earth – is about to appear in the heavens.

During a bloody skirmish with Gideonite troops, Jonathan of Daniel spares Pekah, a young enemy soldier, gaining his trust forever. These two distant brothers from estranged tribes covenant with each other to end the war being waged by a self-proclaimed emperor, and soon discover the intentions of a far more dangerous foe named Rezon – a sinister general bent on ruling those he can bring into subjection and destroying all others.

In the end, Pekah’s selfless bravery is the means by which all the tribes are united. But there are dissenters, and Rezon escapes a well-deserved fate. When the promised heavenly signs appear, will there be peace at last, or will the malefactors once again threaten the safety of them all?

Daron D. Fraley was born in Powell, Wyoming, but doesn’t consider himself a cowboy. Living in France for a couple of years provided him the opportunity to hone his cooking skills and to become addicted to good food and chocolate. Apart from his loving family, teaching and writing are his two most favorite things in the world. A classic computer geek, he still likes to fish and camp, makes a mean apple or pumpkin pie from scratch, and once fixed a gas clothes dryer using photocopier parts. With all of his interests in music, art, the sciences, and religion (especially religion), he would have been quite comfortable living during the Renaissance. Having toured chilly castles while in France, he is glad he didn’t live during that time. The Thorn is his first novel.

After ten total years in the wonderful state of Indiana, Daron, his wife Jennifer, and their six children once again live in the beautiful Rockies, close to friends and family in Wyoming and Utah.

Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley


The perfect day. The perfect marriage. The perfect groom. What could go wrong?

Caitlyn has been preparing for her perfect wedding all her life. But when her fiancé abandons her at the altar, Caitlyn vows she ll never love again.

Going to BYU doesn’t make that easy, however, and avoiding all social contact can only last so long. When her bishop calls her to be the mom of her family home evening group, Caitlyn is suddenly thrust into surprising circumstances that leave her flustered the attention of two unwanted suitors.

Travis, the FHE dad, has plans to woo Caitlyn by using his cowboy charms while Chase has his own ideas for dating her. Will Travis or Chase change her mind about love? Or will it be deja vu?

Rebecca Talley grew up in Santa Barbara, California and now lives on a ranch in Colorado with her amazing husband, 8 of her 10 creative children, horses, goats, and a llama named Tina. She is the author of a children’s picture book, Grasshopper Pie. Her stories have been published in Story Friends, Our Little Friend, The Friend, and Stories for Children. Cedar Fort released her YA novel, Heaven Scent, in spring 2008.

Besides writing, Rebecca enjoys eating chocolate by the pound, dancing to disco music while she cleans all the messes that seem to multiply and replenish her house, and contemplating all the craft projects that still need to be completed. You can find Rebecca at www.rebeccatalley.com.

CLICK HERE for details on how to win these books.

CLICK HERE for details on sponsoring the contest.

Diabetes Auction Starts Today!

Brenda Novak’s auction starts today. We ended up gathering over 100 items for the auction.

“What?” you say? There are only 93 listed in the LDS Publisher category? That is because some of the authors/publishers felt their books would be a better fit in some of the other categories.

Also, the PTBs moved the Fablehaven set HERE. (Yes! The full set, signed by Brandon Mull!) It’s a one day auction that begins and ends on May 13th. Guess they think that will be a hot one. (And of course, it will. I was thinking of bidding on it myself.)

We have both fiction and non-fiction books listed, as well as editing, dinner with a publisher, and a “Bypass the Slush Pile” from Valor Publishing. Go take a look and BID! (Bidding instructions are HERE.)

While you’re there, browse around the other categories. There are some awesome items up for grabs!

Getting Ready for the Whitneys

I would totally be writing a post for today except that I’m off to find a new dress for the Whitney Awards Banquet.

Which one do you think I should go with:


I thought it went without saying, but apparently not. ALL of these gowns will be altered to fit LDS standards—longer sleeves, higher neck, a little looser in certain areas…

April 2010 LDSF Prize Sponsors

Last month’s prize winners announced HERE.

Please take a moment to learn more about our wonderfully generous sponsors.

Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden


Harry Windover adores blonde, green-eyed Athena Lancaster, but alas, a penniless man like himself has no hope of winning a young noblewoman’s hand. To add insult to injury, Athena’s brother-in-law and guardian, the Duke of Kielder, has asked Harry to assist Athena in finding the gentleman of her dreams. But the lovesick Harry is cunning as well: as the weeks pass, he introduces Athena to suitors who are horrifically boring, alarmingly attached to their mothers, downright rude, astoundingly self-absorbed, and utterly ridiculous.

Athena can’t comprehend why she is having so little success meeting eligible and acceptable gentlemen. Indeed, her circle of admirers couldn’t be less admirable–nothing like the loyal, gentle friend she’s found in Harry. But how long can Harry’s scheme be hidden before it is discovered? And what will Athena do when she uncovers Harry’s deception?

Sarah M. Eden says of herself, “I’m not normal. I’m an author. I spend enormous amounts of time avoiding responsible things like cooking dinner and doing laundry and making vital phone calls. Instead, I fill my days with making up stories, talking to voices in my head, and laughing hysterically at my own wit. Like I said, I’m not normal.”

Sarah self-published several regency romances, which are now out-of-print and awaiting republication by a publishing company. Her book, Seeking Persephone, was a 2008 Whitney Award Finalist. Her story is also the lead in LDS Publisher’s Stolen Christmas and Other Stories of the Season.

The Sharp Edge of a Knife by D.N. Giles

Most people would have panicked, sitting bound and gagged on a boulder in the middle of the desert as I was, but for some reason, I didn’t. A strange kind of reassurance washed over me from somewhere deep within. Whether it was peace that I’d go quickly, or comfort that I was being protected, I wasn’t sure.

When Mel Petersen leaves for work on the morning of February 7, he has no idea what awaits him. A few miles from his house, Mel picks up a pair of young men who appear to be college students, hoping to prevent them from having to walk in the cold. What Mel doesn’t know is that the men are actually convicts on the run from the law who are desperate to get away by any means necessary.

When one of his passengers holds a knife to Mel’s throat, he has no choice but to submit to the demands of the criminals. Mel hopes he has what it takes to talk his captors into letting him live so he can return to his wife and children, but fears they will kill him before he has the chance.

D.N. Giles was born in Nevada, and moved with her parents to a number of cities in and around the Midwest, mostly staying in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and snatches of time in Texas. Her future aspirations include adding a tropical island to her growing list of locations. For now, she plans to travel to as many tropical locations as possible, scouting for her future home in paradise.

Her early career plans included becoming a megastar actress or a rock star, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer, in that order. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her family, travel, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.

Her first book Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, an anthology of humorous anecdotes, was released in December 2009 by Cedar Fort Inc. and can be found online and wherever LDS books are sold. Some of her other work has been published in Highlights for Children, The Friend, and Boys’ Quest, and she blogs regularly at www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com. For more information about Nichole or her work, contact her at writenichole at gmail dot com.

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